Monday, April 23, 2012

The Sanford city commission will vote to approve the resignation of the police chief harshly criticized for his handling of the Trayvon Martin case.

The commissioners said in a news release Monday that they would vote at a meeting later in the day to approve the resignation of Bill Lee.

Police did not initially charge 28-year-old George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who claimed he shot the 17-year-old Martin in self-defense.

Florida law gives people broad leeway to use lethal force if they believe their lives are in grave danger. The Feb. 26 shooting sparked protests nationwide, as well as debates about the laws and race. Martin was black; Zimmerman is the son of a white father and Hispanic mother.

Lee had temporarily stepped down as police chief on March 22, saying he wanted to let tensions cool.